Combination key and picture holder



March.15, 1960 B. 'r. FISCHER comsmnou KEY AND PICTURE HOLDER Filed June6, 1958 INVENTOR.

BE 2 NAQD T- 'FWSCHEE ATTO QN EYS e I Z,928,l95 cl Patented Mar. 15,1960 I'his invention relates to key holding devices, that is, devices inthe form of fiat, tag-like articles to which are connected key chains onwhichonefs keys may be carried, I

I Ordinarily, an article of the type described is used simply: as anidentification means or other article that will facilitateidentification of the owner in somemanner in the event the keys arelost. In such cases, the article is a rigidly constituted device, havingno relatively moving parts, that is, after the identification has beenapplied thereto the identifying information, whether it be ones licensenumber. or alternatively ones name and address, is more or lesspermanently retained within'the support provided therefor.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed 7 to provide anarticle' of the class described that will be so designed as to permit aplurality of pictures, identification cards, or the like to be assembledin the device, with each of said pictures or other objects'beingindividually movable to a position in which it is either individuallydisposed, or alternatively, exposes another, normally concealed pictureor card. I 1

'In other words, in the 'inven'tion 'th'ere is a support frame assembly,having a plurality of compartments, with pictures or cards beingnormally housed in superposed relation in said compartments. In suchaninstance, one or more of the pictures would obviously be concealed.However, in accordance with the invention movement of one picture frameout of its normal position will expose another, underlying pictureframewhile said second named frame remains housed in the frame assembly.

Another object is to provide a device of the character I stated whichwill be of compact, flat formation despite the characteristicsthereofdescribed above.

A further object is to facilitate complete removal, of any card orpicture frame, whenever desired, for replacementof the same by anothercard or picture.

Other objects will appear from the'following description, the claimappended thereto,'and from the annexed drawing, inwhich like referencecharacters Idesignate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

Figure 1 is ap'erspective view of a holder according to the invention;

Figure: 2 is a perspective view in which a front frame hasbeen elevatedto expose a rear frame;

Figure 3 is a perspective view in which both the front and rear frameshave been moved outwardly.

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section on line 4--4 of Figure l;and

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure 1. v V

A support assembly 10 includes a thin, rigid, fiat front plate 11, anintermediate or separator plate 12 (Figure 4) and rear plate 14. All theplates have registering peripheries, the plates in a preferredembodiment having tapering upper end portions.

Formed in the upper end edges of the plates 11, 12,

' verted V-shape.

wardly opening recess 37 (Figures 3 and 4) in which is I 2 notches 16,18, and 20 respectively. The purpose of these will be. made apparenthereinafter.

Any of various means can be employed for holding the plates assembledwith one another. In the illustrated example, there is a marginallyextending retaining channel 22, extending along one side of the platesin embracing relation to the several plates, and continuing as at 23across the bottom edges of theplates, again in embracingrelation to theseveral plates. 7

In the side portion of the channel 22, and in the several plates,registering .apertures areformed, receiving a'grommet through whichextends a key chain 24.

The several. plates are maintained in closely spaced,

' parallel planes by means of' separator pieces 26, 28 (Figure .4).

nThe piece 26 is of U-shape, and opens upwardly. By

- reason of its being of U-shape it is adapted to receive an upwardlymovable frame in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

"In embracing relatlonto the plates, at the side opposite that where theplates are embraced by the =channelz22,

there-isa channel 30, cooperating with the channel 22 in holding theplates assembled.

a purpose to be made presently apparent.

Formed in the lower portions of the pl tes 11, 12 are rectangular,registered openings 32, 34 respectively.

Awertically movable, rectangular frame 36 is integral with an upwardlyprojecting tongue 38,; so that there results a support element generallydesignated 39,- ofin- Said element 39 has a shallow, forsnugly engaged acard 40 which may comprise an iden- 7 along that side to which the keychain 24 is connected.- Piece 28 further extends across the full widthof the tification card as shown. Alternatively, of course, a; picture orany other similar article could be engaged in the recess 37. The wallsof the recess are undercut as shown in Figure 4 to releasably retain thecard in the same.

Secured to the upper end' of the tongue 38 is a button or knob 42, whichis normally engaged in the notches provided at the upper end of thedevice. This'constitutes a handle that is grasped .for the purpose oflifting the element 39, either to theposition shown in Figure 3, or toacompletely removed position.

The separator piece -28 constitutes a rear separator piece, and extendsalong the bottom of the plates, and

tapered upper portion of the device, but does not extend continuouslyalong the side of the device embraced by the channel 30. In other words,separator piece 28 .opens laterally to one side, rather than upwardly asin the case of the separator piece 26.

Designated at 44 is a rectangular,- laterally movable card supportelement or frame, having a shallow, forwardly opening recess registeredwith the recess 37 in the housed positions of the frame or elements 39,44. This form of the frame is also designed to receive a card orpicture, as for example the picture 46 engaged firmly in the forwardlyopening recess 47 of frame 44 by means of undercut walls of said recess47.

At one side. there is a forwardly projecting button or I handle 48,which is normally recessed in notches 50 proand 14 are registered,upwardly opening, rectangular vided in plates 11, and12, and in theseparator piece 26.

The plates and separator piece are, ofcourse, all secure'ly cemented orotherwise fixedly connected together in a laminated arrangement shown inFigures 4 and 5. Thus, the device may be said to have a laminatedconstruction, with one of. the laminations having an upwardly openingpocket and the other having a laterally opening pocket, sa1d laminationshaving registering openings so that a frame that is in the laterallyopening pocket will Channel 39, however, terminates well above thebottom edgesof the plates, for

- more thantwo if desired.

frame in an upward direction to its Figure 2 position, the

frame in the laterally opening recess is exposed through the registeredopenings 32, 34'of the laminations.

Ordinarily, the frames 39,44 are fitted with suflicient snugness intheir associated pockets as to be frictionally engaged therein. Thus,there is no danger of the frames accidentally falling out of the support'10. Any intentional removal, of course, can be effected by lateralmovement of frame 44 or upward movement of frame 39 as shown in Figure3. The frames can be removed completely, for replacement of the card'sor pictures carried thereby. V

In their housed conditions, the frames do not project in any way beyondthe periphery of the support. Further, the frame 39 is in concealingrelation to the frame 44.

The frame 44 is exposed, however, by elevation ofgtlie' frame 39 asshown in Figure 2. v I

As will be apparent, the device is a fiat, cotnpact'arti- A of the classdescribe d comprising: a flat sup- -port assembly including a pair ofouter plates, an intermediate plate therebetween, and separator piecesinterposed between the intermediate plate and the respective outerplates, said intermediate plate defining in cooperation with the outerplates a pair'of superposed pockets, said separator pieces beingapproximately U-shaped with one being turned 90 in respectto the otherwhereby one of the pockets is open at one end. and is closed by one oftheseparator pieces'at its other end and at both of its sides, the otherpocket being open at one side and being closed at its other side and atboth of itsends by the other separator piece, one of the outer plates,and the intermediate plate, having registering windows bounded by theU-shaped separator pieces; and card support frames removably positionedin the respective cle, capable 'of carrying a number of cards, andcapable,

in fact, of normally concealing one or more cards from view. Of course,only-two frames are shown byway of example, but it will be'understoodthat there come he The'invention has full adaptability as a key holder,and in addition serves to provide a compact article for carrying aplurality of cards or pictures.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited tot-he specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scopeof'the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

pockets in slidable engagement with the respective support pieces andincluding handles exposed Within said openend and said-open side ofthefirst andsecond pockets respectively in the fully inserted positionsof thefram'es, imposition to b'egraspec'l by'a user during insertion andremoval of therespectiveelem'ents through said open end and open side oftheir associated pockets, said frames having cardrieceiving recessesregistering with the windows in the fully inserted positions of theframes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS"567,012 Sept. 1, 1,934,497 Nov. 7, .1933 9 2,151,396 June 6, 19392,385,778 Evalt Oct. 2, 1945 2,535,255 6, 1950' 2,861,370 'McArthur Nov.2 5, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 393299 France Oct. 21, 1907 443,302 GreatBritain Feb. 26, 1936

